Alan Pardew backs Papiss Cisse to break scoring duck soon

Alan Pardew believes Papiss Cisse needs to find the back of the net just once before the goals start to flow.

The Senegal international made a major impact when he joined Newcastle in January, scoring 13 goals in 14 games, but he is yet to score this season.

On Sunday he missed a number of chances on Sunday against Norwich, including a penalty which he blasted over the bar.

Firing blanks: Papiss Cisse fired his penalty over the bar

But Pardew has no fears that his striker will come good and start to put away the chances.

Pardew said: ‘He is one of those players who doesn’t really carry too much baggage, if I am honest.

'I don’t see an overriding problem there. I just know with Papiss that one goal, one moment will get him back into the groove.

'He’s a great player, and like all great players you have got to stand by them.

'We stood by Hatem when he was not at his best and look at him now. In a kind of forgettable game, I am guessing for most people, especially neutrals, there were four or five moments from Hatem that you could put in a World Cup.

'They were really special and that’s where he is at the minute, he really is playing well.'